My journey with Valparaiso University began on a spring day in 1954, just weeks before graduation. At the time, the Korean War ceasefire had been negotiated, but the U.S. Army was still drafting individuals into service. My local draft board in Los Angeles had granted me a student deferment to complete my final year, but I knew that I would be entering the Army come August.
That day happened to be Career Day at Valpo, where representatives from various companies gathered to speak with soon-to-be graduates about employment opportunities. While I met with several firms, my impending Army service prevented any concrete job offers.
Among the company representatives, I noticed a Naval Officer in his blue dress, gold wings gleaming on his uniform. As an active enlisted member of the Naval Reserve, I was naturally drawn to him, and we struck up a conversation. He asked me a simple but life-changing question: “How would you like to become a Navy pilot?”
The idea was thrilling, but I explained my situation with the draft board. He responded, “If you’re interested, go to NAS Glenview in Chicago, take the pre-flight physical, and if you pass, I’ll take care of your Army situation.”
I took the test, passed, and soon received orders to report to NAS Pensacola, Florida, for Navy flight training. My draft notice for the Army was no longer in effect. That moment changed the course of my life.
Over the next 18 months, I trained in Florida and Texas before earning my Navy Gold Wings in 1956. I served with Fighter Squadron 91 at NAS Alameda, completed a Far East deployment aboard the USS Ticonderoga, and ultimately embarked on a 31-year career as a commercial pilot with Northwest Airlines, flying primarily between Seattle and Asia.
Looking back, I realize none of this would have happened without Valpo. That single “chance encounter” with the Naval Officer on Career Day set my life on a path I could never have imagined. While I might have had a fine career as an accountant, I was blessed with opportunities, experiences, and financial rewards beyond my wildest dreams—all because of Valpo.
To express my gratitude for the incredible Christian education I received and the life-changing moment on that campus, I am honored to include Valpo in my estate plans. We have created a scholarship endowment fund that will help future students achieve their dreams, just as Valpo helped shape mine.
And to think it all started with a seemingly ordinary conversation on a spring day in 1954. But was it really just a chance encounter? Or something more?
